Special Olympics Quebec SUMMA benefit event raises $700,000

Special Olympics Quebec is pleased to announce that the SUMMA benefit evening, presented at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal, raised the incredible amount of $700,000. The event was held under the honorary presidency of Éric-Olivier Savoie, President & CEO, National Bank Investments and Alain Desmarais, Senior Vice-President – IT Delivery-Operations, Payments, Cards, Data and Portfolios, National Bank.

After a warm welcome of all the guests by a police officers honour guard, representing multiple services grouped within the Law Enforcement Torch Run, five Special Olympics Quebec athletes were presented at the beginning of the evening, paired with sports celebrities (Bruno Heppell, Martin Bédard, Florence Brunelle, Alexandre Bilodeau and Steve Bégin). Throughout the evening, Audrey Larose-Rapin, Marie-Ève ​​Mulligan, Maude Davignon, Maxime Clavette and Rachelle Parent walked amongst the crowd to meet the more than 500 guests and chat with them about their sports and their lives.

Éric-Olivier Savoie underlined the importance of commitment to social inclusion.

“Sport has the extraordinary power to bring people together, break down barriers and promote inclusion. Your commitment and support will have a concrete positive impact by providing thousands of athletes with the necessary resources so that they can flourish and reach their full potential.”

The mayor of the City of Granby, Ms. Julie Bourdon, also reminded the attendees that her city will enthusiastically welcome more than one thousand athletes during the next Special Olympics Quebec Summer Games, in August of 2025, and that the Board of Directors of the Summer Games Society would be chaired by Mr. Jean-Charles Lajoie.

The president of the board of Special Olympics Quebec, Daniel Granger, reiterated the meaning of the event for the organization and society:

“SUMMA evenings are events that bring together all the partners whose collaboration is essential to building inclusive and open communities towards people living with an intellectual disability or who live with autism. These gatherings are privileged moments to raise awareness, mobilize and continue to offer sports and health programs to a growing number of children, young people and adults, which we have been providing, in all regions of Quebec,  year-round for 42 years, to promote social inclusion. ”